General

Is it possible to hold a Minyan if 9 Adult Jewish Men are present, and 1 non-Adult (under 13 years of age) Male present?

Okay hi!! So I have a question and trying to look it up is very very confusing. So! Basically my great grandmother on my moms side was a Jewish German and came to America in the 1940s I think…yeah. And then my grandma tried to convert to catholic (her mom was apparently very strict so I think she wanted to rebel)but gave up I think. And my mom has always had a sort of attachment to the cultural side of being Jewish but not identifying as Jewish anymore?? We grew up with dradles and wearing the Star of David and stuff like that but we celebrated Christmas and never went to temple. So I’m wondering if I’m even Jewish? Like we have the ancestry but it seems even if my mom and grandma are/were, they don’t identify as Jewish anymore?? I’m not sure bad the whole thing is very confusing to me. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

Shalom, Please help my lack of understanding a few of the following things: Jacob went to Shechem instead of Bethel where G-d told him to go, and he set up living there with his family. He then made an altar and named it EleloheIsrael, meaning G-d of Israel. Question: is Jacob saying or acknowledging that G-d is his G-d? And did G-d allow the horrible act upon his daughter Dinah to happen to cause Jacob to stop idolatry and to go back to Bethel where he should have been in the first place?   Thank you for any enlightenment or depth you may give me.          

I live in the Philippines. I read that Daniel prayed 3 times a day facing Jerusalem while in exile. Where do I face if I also want to face the Holy Land, specifically Jerusalem. Thanks

I will be davening Shachrit in Sydney Australia on Wednesday 21 December before flying to the United States of America I arrive in America at 06:00 am on Wednesday 21 December (same day as I leave Australia) Do I need to daven Shachrit again in America ?

Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. The Rema in O.C. 426:16, regarding the Kiddush Levanah, writes "He should say to his fellow three times 'Shalom alecha.' Responding to this is like greeting with it." Does this mean that if 3 different people wish him shalom aleichem and he responds aleichem shalom to all 3, he doesn't have to say shalom aleichem to 3 more people? Is it the current custom to say "shalom aleichem" to 3 more people even if one has already responded "aleichem shalom" to three different people? Thanks a lot.

Shalom aleichem Rabbi Lauffer. Thank you for answering my last question. Would one be allowed to text someone a greeting or any other type of texting conversation before he has davened shacharis and after dawn, or would this come under the prohibition of greeting people or otherwise talking to them before he has davened shacharis. Thanks a lot.

Dear Rabbi, I am searching for a Hebrew grammar book which has sigular and plural number charts, niqqud charts, and a large number of vocabulary of Hebrew words. Could you recommend this type of book? If you tell me the name of this type of Hebrew grammar book, I will try to buy this at online. How I can speak Hebrew fluently? Can you give me some advice for that please?